Anisogramma anomala, causal agent of Eastern Filbert Blight (EFB), is endemic to eastern North America and was accidentally introduced to the Pacific Northwest hazelnut (Corylus avellana) growing regions around 1960. A single gene conferring resistance was identified in the pollinizer ‘Gasaway’ by the OSU Hazelnut Breeding Program, and deployed across the Willamette Valley in the majority of cultivars released since 2008. In preparation for a mutation or second accidental new introduction, research has focused on discovering, mapping, and developing useful molecular markers for new sources of resistance. In October 2023, a new isolate of A. anomala was detected in a grower’s orchard in Woodburn, OR, growing on the previously resistant ‘Jefferson’. The results of this study focus on linkage group 2 resistance (LG2), conveyed by ‘Georgian OSU 759.010’. Using two populations from a cross between ‘OSU 1477.047’ with Georgian resistance and ‘Sacajawea’ with quantitative resistance, n=272 recombinant offspring were identified using existing SSR markers. Marker development resulted in 40 new SSR markers covering an 8.5Mbp region, and a linkage map of the resistance region was constructed. Characterization of the 40 new SSR markers is in progress.
